Power Tool Battery Recycling Pilot Launches in Brisbane

September 4, 2015

Brad Gray

In a single year more than 3 million power tool batteries reach the end of their life. That equates to around 2,010 tonnes of waste. It’s unknown what happens to them. Do they go to landfill, do they clutter up the shed or are they recycled?

Understanding what happen to them is important as many of those batteries are made from nickel cadmium (NiCd) and are amongst the most hazardous batteries in the waste stream.

To understand what happens to used power tool batteries the Australian Battery Recycling Initiative (ABRI), with funding from the Queensland Department of Environment and Heritage Protection, has set up a pilot recycling program in Brisbane called Power Tool Batteryback. The aim of the pilot, which runs until June 2016, is to inform the establishment of a permanent recycling program.

Customers can drop any brand of used power tool battery, weighing less than 500 grams, into the specially marked bins in participating Bunnings, Masters or TradeTools stores around Brisbane

For a Chance to Win

As the Power Tool Batteryback recycling program is a pilot we are looking for feedback from the public. Take a couple of minutes to fill in a survey about power tool batteries to be in the running to win one of ten Bosch three piece 10.8V cordless kits with tool bag, valued at $199 each. Do the survey.

Find Out More

Power Tool Batteryback is a program of ABRI with support from its members, Planet Ark, EcoActiv and MRI.

Brad Gray

Brad was Planet Ark's Head of Campaigns for 10 years.
He trained and worked as a history and geography teacher before moving into the health education sector for 14 years. With a strong passion for human environments, Brad started with Planet Ark in 2007 as Recycling Programs Manager.